One Order of Crow…

…but washed down with a tall glass of “well, they finally listened to us.”

The past ten or so days in Mets history have been well-chronicled elsewhere, so there is no need to re-hash them again here. Suffice to say that as a long-time Mets fan, I thought that when it comes to these guys that I had seen it all, but there is nothing that compares to the period from July 24 through last night. Never before have the Mets been so active with in-season trades, while at the same time playing ballgames under the heat and intensity of a playoff stretch.

My feelings on the Wilpon family and the Mets front office mirror those of many readers of this blog and Mets fans in general. So brace yourself—-kudos to Sandy Alderson for making those four deadline deals, especially the buzzer beater on Friday. And a grudging “thanks” to Fred and Jeff for taking on the extra money (although not a whole lot!) to make this team team more entertaining. I promise to buy tickets again. Now, please just go away and let us enjoy baseball.

Although “enjoy” may not be the right term for the emotions I felt as I watched the games this past weekend. I had my hands over my eyes, waiting, waiting for the bubble to burst and the Nationals to take the other hand from out behind their backs and throttle the Mets. Instead, I came away thinking that Washington is a lot like those late 1980’s Mets teams: loaded with talent, but perhaps more than a bit overrated and maybe, just maybe, lacking that certain something that gets them over the top. At least those 80’s Mets won a World Series. If you want a laugh, check out the comments section in any recent Nationals game recap.

As for the Mets, I have no idea what to expect, but there is reason for optimism. They didn’t implode right after the All-Star break and when the sun came up this morning, it shone on their tie with Washington for the division lead. They could make as many as three more player additions via returns from the DL. While not the slam dunk that the ESPN hacks insinuated last night, their schedule is favorable, especially when compared to Washington’s. That ficklest of mistresses, Dame Momentum, is currently in their corner.

There is really no telling how this roller coaster ride of a season will end (and doesn’t that April streak seem like it happened three years ago?), but in the words of Keith Hernandez: “The race is on.”

A Mets fan since 1971, Dan spent many summer nights of his childhood watching the Mets on WOR Channel Nine, which his Allentown, PA cable company carried. Dan was present at Game 7 of the 1986 World Series and the Todd Pratt Walkoff Game in 1999. He is also the proud owner of two Shea Stadium seats. Professionally, Dan is a Marketing Manager in the Bulk Materials Handling industry. He lives in Bethlehem PA with his wife and son, neither of whom fully get his obsession with the Mets.

Buster Onley on ESPN appears to be floating the theory that some sort of fan activity pressured the Mets into adding talent at the deadline. I an not an Insider, though, so can’t read it. A summary would be much appreciated!

argonbunniesAugust 3, 2015 at 2:29 pm

As for the Mets’ schedule, I’m not sure what to think. We face a lot of teams with poor pitching but decent lineups, who are under .500 because good hitters beat up on them. But the Mets don’t have many such hitters. I expect our pitchers to be tested more than they have been recently (e.g. San Diego’s lineup is pretty awful), and our bats will need to step up to compensate. I am slightly worried that d’Arnuad didn’t get enough minor league PAs — we really need him hitting like himself, and he swung through a bunch of pitches on Friday and Saturday that he normally crushes.

DaveSchneckAugust 3, 2015 at 9:29 pm

The word I heard is that Jeffy was pushing for the Friday deal. I have a low opnion of Jeffy and the advantage of hindsight given the weekend’s events, but it was a huge gamble that has paid off (barring a freefall). I was lukewarm with the deal Friday afternoon, not because I don’t like Cespedes (who is a stud) but because a lemon or two vs the Nats would have them 5 to 6 out, continued bad karma, and zero margin for error.

We fans, myself included, are starved for meaningful Met games through game 162. My gut tells me that Alderson would not have met the Tiger asking price (Fulmer) without prodding from Jeff. For a smart guy, he still doesn’t demonstrate that gets NY. But, from a brand-restoration perspective, the upside of this move, should the play well to the end, is huge. Even if they should stumble and fall short, the buzz tht has come from the events of the past few days should increase projected revenues and payroll for 2016. Despite dealing 5 pitchers from the system, including the top two minor league prospects, the system remains deep. They are well poised for 2015 and beyond. As a fan, that is all I have ever asked for. So, kudos to the management and the players. Time to play ball and focus on the games. How nice that is.

Dan42August 4, 2015 at 5:12 am

Could it be that Jeffy was pushing for the Friday deal because he was taking so much heat for killing the Gomez deal, and it included no hard cost beyond this year?

argonbunniesAugust 4, 2015 at 4:39 pm

Where’d you hear that, Dave? Not more skeptical than of any other Mets news, just curious.

DaveSchneckAugust 5, 2015 at 4:38 pm

There was some chatter on sports talk from hosts and callers that Jeffy was pushing the acquisition. I heard the same for the Granderson signing, that SA didn’t want to give the 4th season, so it sounds somewhat consistent. Who knows, but it kinda make sense.

argonbunniesAugust 7, 2015 at 2:55 pm

Interesting. I ask partly because, as much as I’m happy to view the ponzi scheme-riding sexist tycoon Wilpons as the bad guys, I think there’s also a legitimate possibility that refusing to spend on payroll is actually a Sandy-led position. Alderson has only been a Mets employee for 4+ years; he’s been an employee of MLB and its owners for far longer than that. It’s quite conceivable to me that proving an owner-friendly theory — that stingy payrolls can produce .500+ teams anywhere, and a level playing field with 10 playoff teams can put butts in seats for teams that are merely .500+ — is more important to Alderson than a Mets championship.

For all the Wilpon haters, it’d be pretty ironic if Alderson’s desire to simply keep the Mets on the edge of contention is only surpassed by Fred or Jeff, as Mets fans, butting in to reach for a ring.

friendAugust 6, 2015 at 4:54 pm

When life gives you crow, make crownuts!

MetsFan62August 8, 2015 at 1:58 pm

When life gives you crow, you get an eagle……….. (a hungry one)

Argon, your last statement is plausible. SA does act like a corporate rep.

However if MLB wants true parity they have to curb the Yankees and Dodgers as the top money spenders.

Dan BAugust 9, 2015 at 7:39 am

I will look into to see if anyone did a study of parity vs dynasty and whether one brings in more revenue. In the long term, I get the feeling people want to see dominate teams. People still talk about the 27 Yankees but rarely the 73 Mets. Even the 62 Mets are more beloved.